quote:

ORIGINAL: HughesRoss

OFF TOPIC I know, but as I am too busy to write any reviews this week, even though I have watched about five horrors since Sunday and also have now seen the much talked about PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.....Let me tell you what sad little incident excited me today.

Here I was, this morning puting the Christmas Dec's up my shop with my lovely staff.....thinking normal things when walking past the window...here in raining welsh town of Merthyr....was blinking Mike Tyson....yes Iron Mike....what the???????

I thought I was seeing things until I saw his crowd of Bodyguards and the manic sound of the press, clicking their cameras away... 

Oh well.....thought I share that pointless information with you guys

quote:

ORIGINAL: HughesRoss

   DYING BREED

Here I was only saying last week in another Australian Horror Coffin Rock that how all the recent down under horror films are all linked to the most popular of recent years Wolf Creek, when all of a sudden, yet another one lands in my DVD collection.

This time its no Director, no executive producer, no writer, but a star.  Yes Nathan Phillip who I last saw getting tortured by the mad man in the bush, is back, and clearly as no sense as he decides to go hiking again with a gang of friends. 

This time in search of a long thought of extinct tiger that used to roam the Tasmanian wilderness.  Determined to find footage that the tiger is still alive, the gang of four head off where they run into a bunch of locals that do not seem quite right in the head.  Before you can yell "Wolf Creek! all over again" the gang are in trouble, where a long forgotten secret lives in the mountains, and a legacy that the locals do not want to ruin....

Oh I miss the days when we just had high school Virgins getting hacked to death by a beast in a mask.   At least those films were dumb and fun.  The hikers in peril as been done to death by now and you find yourself getting quite bored at what seems like an old theme that ripples through this film.

Like all recent Aussie Horrors, the film is lavished with beautiful images of the misty waters and landscapes, while the film carries on the tradition of slow build up, that tries so hard to create the tension of all good horror films.  Its just the stale script offers nothing new, and the feeling of dread does not come despite the attempts by the director. 

The characters are also unlikeable, Phillips himself being the biggest idiot on show.  They do not quite scrape the barrel of doing stupid things as in most dumb horrors, but its hard to find any sympathy when they are so stupid for putting themselves in these positions.  Canny as well after the barn-storming performance by Irish Sam Parsonson in Coffin Rock we get another Irish in Aussie land with Mirrah Foulkes who does not quite match that level of performance.

Its a film that as come five years to late of a genre theme that is now going the way of J-Horror.  Fans are quite rightly fed up with the basic approach and Dying Breed fails to lighten the mood.  It plays serious at times then changes pace to a bit tongue and cheek, leaving the film with weak killings and a mixed tone, and hardcore horror fans left feeling frustrated...

OVERALL: Another Hikers in peril, when will they ever learn..............1.5 out of 5

quote:

ORIGINAL: CORLEONE

Anyone see this? Worth a fiver?

quote:

ORIGINAL: evil bill


I went to see Triangle on a whim on last night,hoping it might be as good as Severance or Creep,also directed and written by Christopher Smith.Now this is very much a take on Strangers mixed with Adrift,but far morwe weird,and to say to much could spoil the fun.It's also very welll acted and directed,with Mellissa George as the lead in a small cast of young people on a yachting break off the coast of Florida who encounter a mysterious ship with no passengers after their yacht is upturned.What follows is a well written mystery that unfolds at a perfect pace withthe right amount of menace.Christopher Smith has clearly spent a long time and money putting this film together a lot of detail.The lead performance is excellent, superbly holding the plot together; and the supporting cast are more than excellent. If you're looking for something a little different and you're happy to pay close attention to detail for an hour and a half, Triangle is an original, well written and directed mystery that will keep you guessing until the final scene?.A real surprise as it was realy just a whim,i had'nt seen a review for it and fancied a thriller,and this did thrill and is pretty violent by the way for a 15.8/10

quote:

ORIGINAL: dj vivace

quote:

ORIGINAL: HughesRoss

OFF TOPIC I know, but as I am too busy to write any reviews this week, even though I have watched about five horrors since Sunday and also have now seen the much talked about PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.....Let me tell you what sad little incident excited me today.

Here I was, this morning puting the Christmas Dec's up my shop with my lovely staff.....thinking normal things when walking past the window...here in raining welsh town of Merthyr....was blinking Mike Tyson....yes Iron Mike....what the???????

I thought I was seeing things until I saw his crowd of Bodyguards and the manic sound of the press, clicking their cameras away... 

Oh well.....thought I share that pointless information with you guys

Thats amazing!!!! I've always been a HUGE fan of Iron Mike. Not too long ago i watched the movie called Tyson. Incredible, he was so honest in it, and he actually came across as quite an intelligent man. Were you not tempted to throw something at him??

Oh, and Paranormal Activity?? Come on, review!!! I loved it, really really loved it. If you let it, its scary as hell! Can you PM me the new ending, i watched the verision with the original ending

quote:

ORIGINAL: dj vivace

quote:

ORIGINAL: HughesRoss

OFF TOPIC I know, but as I am too busy to write any reviews this week, even though I have watched about five horrors since Sunday and also have now seen the much talked about PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.....Let me tell you what sad little incident excited me today.

Here I was, this morning puting the Christmas Dec's up my shop with my lovely staff.....thinking normal things when walking past the window...here in raining welsh town of Merthyr....was blinking Mike Tyson....yes Iron Mike....what the???????

I thought I was seeing things until I saw his crowd of Bodyguards and the manic sound of the press, clicking their cameras away... 

Oh well.....thought I share that pointless information with you guys

Thats amazing!!!! I've always been a HUGE fan of Iron Mike. Not too long ago i watched the movie called Tyson. Incredible, he was so honest in it, and he actually came across as quite an intelligent man. Were you not tempted to throw something at him??

Oh, and Paranormal Activity?? Come on, review!!! I loved it, really really loved it. If you let it, its scary as hell! Can you PM me the new ending, i watched the verision with the original ending

quote:

ORIGINAL: evil bill


V For Vendetta has it's origins in Orwells 1984,also the Guy Fawke story in a strange and entertaining way.But this is'nt just a film, but it is also a wake up call of which there are not enough in this time we live in. It speaks directly to the bullshit that we endure but seldom take notice of because we are distracted by things that do not matter,as we are bombarded by media lies. Most try so hard to be so outwardly different from the rest that they do not realize that in doing this they become just like everyone else,oblivious. to the loss of freedom of mind and speech,in a society controlled by spin doctors.We are brainwashed by our video games, watching reality television,and the facts?? of war on terror that hide a hidden agenda.These are the distractions that keep society from pondering in the wee hours of the night what they can do to prevent true injustice. The evils committed by those that govern us are far worse than any fiction the cinema can dazzle us with these days. Yes this is a truly great film and one that I will cherish for a long time,and hope that its message finds a wide audience that is open to seeing things from another perspective, in a uniquely human light. In the end that is what the film is about being human,and being able and willing to recognize the evils of society and take a stand to make things better than they are. The film of course takes this idea to extremes and is based on a comic,but it is a wake up call to those that have closed there eyes.It is also very entertaining,with a captial E, and with it being Guy Fawkes night very apt,it's just a shame it's only a movie as the powers that be have asumed control for real.Wellcome To 1984 for real8/10

quote:


Voilą! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.

The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.

Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.

quote:

ORIGINAL: evil bill


Public Enemies is one the best films i've seen in a long time,seen it with the missus at the local flicks,a while ago.And must say i enjoyed it a lot,and those gun battles where mind blowing he's out done the great gun battle in HEAT(well just about).You could hear the bullets going down the barrel of the guns never mind the breaking of bone,glass plaster etc.Maybe it was just that our local flicks has a great sound system,but i was well impressed with the sound and images,which seemed inhanced in some way.Now have it on DVD and watched it yet again,sound and vision are power excellent,and as far as crime movies go this is outstanding,not so much on account of the story, it's not a standard biography/swelled drama, it's a slice of real life of a notorious bank robber Dillinger.And Depp was perfect for the role,in fact born for this role, you just end up loving  Dillinger.The rest of the cast, Bale especially, are very good, Cotillard didn't impress me deeply, except for the interrogation scene, but she's a good actress, and as for the rest of the cast that includes Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Billy Crudup, David Wenham and a host of other familiar faces,again excellent. There have of course been comparisons made between this film and Heat,both feel gritty and real,but thats where it ends,Mann has come up with another visual treat of a movie,that takes you back in time,and carries you along to the very end,get the ditty bankers jonny.I gave this 5/5 and i'm sticking to that so it's 10/10 classic ganster movie.,

quote:

ORIGINAL: evil bill


Public Enemies is one the best films i've seen in a long time,seen it with the missus at the local flicks,a while ago.And must say i enjoyed it a lot,and those gun battles where mind blowing he's out done the great gun battle in HEAT(well just about).You could hear the bullets going down the barrel of the guns never mind the breaking of bone,glass plaster etc.Maybe it was just that our local flicks has a great sound system,but i was well impressed with the sound and images,which seemed inhanced in some way.Now have it on DVD and watched it yet again,sound and vision are power excellent,and as far as crime movies go this is outstanding,not so much on account of the story, it's not a standard biography/swelled drama, it's a slice of real life of a notorious bank robber Dillinger.And Depp was perfect for the role,in fact born for this role, you just end up loving  Dillinger.The rest of the cast, Bale especially, are very good, Cotillard didn't impress me deeply, except for the interrogation scene, but she's a good actress, and as for the rest of the cast that includes Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Billy Crudup, David Wenham and a host of other familiar faces,again excellent. There have of course been comparisons made between this film and Heat,both feel gritty and real,but thats where it ends,Mann has come up with another visual treat of a movie,that takes you back in time,and carries you along to the very end,get the ditty bankers jonny.I gave this 5/5 and i'm sticking to that so it's 10/10 classic ganster movie.,

quote:

ORIGINAL: evil bill


Public Enemies is one the best films i've seen in a long time,seen it with the missus at the local flicks,a while ago.And must say i enjoyed it a lot,and those gun battles where mind blowing he's out done the great gun battle in HEAT(well just about).You could hear the bullets going down the barrel of the guns never mind the breaking of bone,glass plaster etc.Maybe it was just that our local flicks has a great sound system,but i was well impressed with the sound and images,which seemed inhanced in some way.Now have it on DVD and watched it yet again,sound and vision are power excellent,and as far as crime movies go this is outstanding,not so much on account of the story, it's not a standard biography/swelled drama, it's a slice of real life of a notorious bank robber Dillinger.And Depp was perfect for the role,in fact born for this role, you just end up loving  Dillinger.The rest of the cast, Bale especially, are very good, Cotillard didn't impress me deeply, except for the interrogation scene, but she's a good actress, and as for the rest of the cast that includes Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Billy Crudup, David Wenham and a host of other familiar faces,again excellent. There have of course been comparisons made between this film and Heat,both feel gritty and real,but thats where it ends,Mann has come up with another visual treat of a movie,that takes you back in time,and carries you along to the very end,get the ditty bankers jonny.I gave this 5/5 and i'm sticking to that so it's 10/10 classic ganster movie.,

quote:

ORIGINAL: paul.mccluskey

I went to see Saw VI today. I'm glad that Empire gave it 3 stars. It really is a good film. Gory as usual, but still intelligent, and it wraps up all of the loose ends. There is a sense of closure to the story, but I hope that Saw VII will be a new beginning for the franchise.

Well worth checking out.

quote:

ORIGINAL: HughesRoss

Here you go DJ....I PM you soon mate....but its safe to say...best Horror of the year
 
 
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY





                                                "Hold your breath....
                                                    make a wish......
                                                   count to three...
                                                   come with me
                                 and You'll be......in a world of pure imagination.....
                                take a look.....and you see........into your imagination...
 
                                                  We'll begin.....with a spin....
                                        travelling in the world of my creation....
                                    what we see see will defy EXPLANATION..."
                                    
                    "PURE IMAGINATION" from The Film Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory
 
 
No I am not losing my marbles but if any song summed up what this horror has to offer, then I can not think of any other than the one sung by a certain Wonka.

As make no mistake about it, for a film that cries out for your Imagination to go into overdrive, then this is it.  A superb horror film that fully deserves all the plaudits it as been getting.

Just when you thought the camcorder horror theme had run its course, out comes this simple tale of boyfriend and girlfriend who upon hearing certain things that go bump in the night, set up a camera in their bedroom, to film what quite goes on, when their eyes are shut and into the world of sleep,  As each night passes, the noises become more severe, and soon the couples worst nightmares come true as they realise they in a position that they could never ever imagine........

I can not describe how after I have finished watching this film, that I totally adore it.  A wonderful simple premise that fills you with dread and stays long after the final credits roll.   Comparisons with the Blair Witch is of course fully justified.  In fact you can actually say that this is the sequel that the 1998 classic fully deserved.  But while  their overall themes are identical, I found Paranormal Activity outdoes the Witch for scares and settings.  Maybe its the constant theme of Hikers in peril, but while I love Blair and will always stick up for it and still say it deserves the 5 out of 5 I give it, watching it recently, I found myself having no sympathy for the three who ventured into the woods.  I mean they were just asking for it weren't they? They were warned enough before they left their car and lost their map.

Here its different.  We have a young couple, trapped in the confines of their home or in this case bedroom, with nowhere to go and no place to hide.  Those who snigger and say "Well they should just leave!" are clearly not paying enough attention to the script.  Even if they left, they will not get away, it gives a claustrophobic feel to the film that makes the viewer feel trapped like them.

Others will remark that nothing much happens!  But it does!  I never found myself bored once with the day scenes, as the entire premise had me hooked as I dreaded with them as night approaches.

Its them who criticise are those whose Imagination failed them.  As soon as the camera switched to night mode, my mind raced at what was to come.  Every shadow was transfixed into my mind, every creak hit my ear drums as the couple slept and I was their watching eye.  Each passing night becoming more freaky and scary.  If my tiny brain was thinking horrible things, it makes you realise why the mind that give us Jaws and E.T. was so scared of this film. 

And what scares they are!  The -without spoiling- "Standing watching!" moment is my highlight of the year.  A scene so simple with design, that it left me uncomfortable, then of course the moment when the first big terror arrives and like her boyfriend, I was shocked and speechless......

Just to confuse everyone, the version I saw, was the original cut with the ending that as now been changed.  The ending here was abrupt and quite staggering, as all of the terror was off camera.  My first initial thought was "Is that it!", but then thoughts entered my mind and I realised it was perfect.  No explanation, just left with a feeling of "shit!" in a good way.  The new version as an ending which was thought of by the great man himself Steven Spielberg and its been described and I quote...."Weird, unsettling and very memorable!"....

If it is, then it can only enhance this film further.  The new Blair Witch? Heck! its safe to say that the bitch in the woods as a new contender for her throne.  Its that good.  A horror that surpasses all of 2009.  A genuine frightening camcorder horror flick that does everything you want and need in a horror.

OVERALL: Totally genuine scares and a frightening concept...a 2009 classic horror ......5 out of 5


                                                      EDIT:

And like a clever horror fan, I have just watched the new ending....and for some reason I prefer the original ending.  Its great though..more horror and in your face...DJ I have PMed you with it

quote:

ORIGINAL: UTB

I fucking love V for Vendetta.

quote:


Voilą! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.

The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.

Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.

Hugo Weaving is just fantastic.

quote:

ORIGINAL: dj vivace


Thanks for the PM mate, i saw the original ending, which sounds far mre believable and sticks with the same formula. I too rated this as the best horror of the year. However, its really is as scary as YOU want it to be! Thtas the genius, its left up to the viewer to decide how scared they really want to be.

This film has stayed with me since seeing it a few weeks back, truly unsettling. And a you said, you do feel for the victims becase they really don't have anywhere to go. Both characters were played excellently. I too rate the Blair Witch as one of the best of all time, and using the same ideas, Paranormal Activity surpasses what the Blair Witch set out to achieve. Some will find this film boring, the "torture-porn" audience won't have the patience, or the mental capability to think things up for themselves. Whilst us good folk on this very thread, i truly believe, will all LOVE this work of genius!!

quote:

ORIGINAL: dj vivace

quote:

ORIGINAL: evil bill


Public Enemies is one the best films i've seen in a long time,seen it with the missus at the local flicks,a while ago.And must say i enjoyed it a lot,and those gun battles where mind blowing he's out done the great gun battle in HEAT(well just about).You could hear the bullets going down the barrel of the guns never mind the breaking of bone,glass plaster etc.Maybe it was just that our local flicks has a great sound system,but i was well impressed with the sound and images,which seemed inhanced in some way.Now have it on DVD and watched it yet again,sound and vision are power excellent,and as far as crime movies go this is outstanding,not so much on account of the story, it's not a standard biography/swelled drama, it's a slice of real life of a notorious bank robber Dillinger.And Depp was perfect for the role,in fact born for this role, you just end up loving  Dillinger.The rest of the cast, Bale especially, are very good, Cotillard didn't impress me deeply, except for the interrogation scene, but she's a good actress, and as for the rest of the cast that includes Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Billy Crudup, David Wenham and a host of other familiar faces,again excellent. There have of course been comparisons made between this film and Heat,both feel gritty and real,but thats where it ends,Mann has come up with another visual treat of a movie,that takes you back in time,and carries you along to the very end,get the ditty bankers jonny.I gave this 5/5 and i'm sticking to that so it's 10/10 classic ganster movie.,

I'm with you 100% on this mate. Brilliant film which i have now bought on Blu-Ray. Will be watching sometime over the next week, so will post my second thoughts. A classic, and totally agree, one of the best of the year

quote:

ORIGINAL: evil bill

quote:

ORIGINAL: dj vivace


Thanks for the PM mate, i saw the original ending, which sounds far mre believable and sticks with the same formula. I too rated this as the best horror of the year. However, its really is as scary as YOU want it to be! Thtas the genius, its left up to the viewer to decide how scared they really want to be.

This film has stayed with me since seeing it a few weeks back, truly unsettling. And a you said, you do feel for the victims becase they really don't have anywhere to go. Both characters were played excellently. I too rate the Blair Witch as one of the best of all time, and using the same ideas, Paranormal Activity surpasses what the Blair Witch set out to achieve. Some will find this film boring, the "torture-porn" audience won't have the patience, or the mental capability to think things up for themselves. Whilst us good folk on this very thread, i truly believe, will all LOVE this work of genius!!

I'm looking forward to seeing this movie,but i have to say the Blair Witch did not move me at all.Maybe it was over hyped,and i was expecting to much,now don't get me wrong i thought it was well made and a great idea,but just lacked that jump out of your pants moments.Still it did help take horror in a new direction,like Rec,and Cloverfield etc,so it deserves to be seen and i still give it a decent 6/10.

quote:

ORIGINAL: HughesRoss

Forgot to say that a mate of mine claims to have the third version of Paranormal Activity that has a different ending all together!  I have told DJ what I have read what was the intended climax, but as far as I know only a few people have seen this much darker version and I am sure my mate is mistaken and he as not got it!  I will let you guys know soon of this debate